Battery charging inlet and locking device

Abstract

A locking device for a power feeding plug installed in a vehicle. The vehicle includes an inlet that receives the power feeding plug to charge a battery, which powers a motor. A door antenna transmits a verification signal to an electronic key. The locking device includes a lock bar moved between lock and unlock positions. The lock bar blocks the power feeding plug, which is attached to the inlet, when located at the lock position to prohibit removal of the power feeding plug from the inlet. An inlet antenna transmits the verification signal to an area that includes the inlet. The inlet antenna and door antenna are arranged at different locations. A controller moves the lock bar when verification of the electronic key is accomplished in response to the verification signal from the inlet antenna.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A charging inlet device installed in a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a battery and an inlet, which receives a power feeding plug to charge the battery, and wherein the vehicle transmits a wireless verification signal to an electronic key and permits or performs an operation when verification of the electronic key is accomplished, the charging inlet device comprising:
 a lock mechanism that prevents removal of the power feeding plug from the inlet, wherein the lock mechanism performs at least one of a locking operation and an unlocking operation on the power feeding plug when the verification of the electronic key through a first wireless verification signal is accomplished; 
 a first inlet antenna arranged near the inlet and transmitting the first wireless verification signal to the electronic key when the electronic key is provided in a first communication area proximal the inlet; and 
 wherein the vehicle comprises a second antenna for transmitting the wireless verification signal to the electronic key when the electronic key is provided in a second communication area, the second communication area provided distal to the inlet. 
 
     
     
       2. The charging inlet device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the lock mechanism includes a mechanical component, which is movable to perform the locking operation and the unlocking operation, and a case, which accommodates the mechanical component; and 
 the inlet antenna is accommodated in the case. 
 
     
     
       3. The charging inlet device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 that the second antenna is communicable with the electronic key, and the inlet antenna communicates with the electronic key in a communication mode that differs from that of the further antenna so that communication between the electronic key and the inlet antenna is distinguishable from communication between the electronic key and the further antenna. 
 
     
     
       4. The charging inlet device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an operation unit that is operated when starting the verification through wireless communication between the inlet antenna and the electronic key. 
     
     
       5. The charging inlet device according to  claim 4 , wherein the operation unit is an unlock switch operated to perform the unlocking operation with the lock mechanism. 
     
     
       6. The charging inlet device according to  claim 4 , wherein the lock mechanism alternately performs the lock operation and the unlock operation whenever the operation unit is operated. 
     
     
       7. The charging inlet device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the vehicle is an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, and the inlet is connected to the battery which powers the motor for driving wheels of said vehicle. 
 
     
     
       8. A locking device for a power feeding plug installed in a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a battery, a motor driven by the battery, an inlet that receives the power feeding plug to charge the battery, a door antenna that transmits a verification radio wave signal to an electronic key, and a door locked or unlocked when authorized radio wave communication is performed between the electronic key and the door antenna, the locking device comprising:
 a movable member moved between a lock position and an unlock position, wherein the movable member is located to interfere with the power feeding plug, which is connected to the inlet, upon removal of the power feeding plug when located at the lock position to prohibit removal of the power feeding plug from the inlet, and wherein the movable member is moved to a position at which the movable member does not interfere with the power feeding plug when located at the unlock position to permit removal of the power feeding plug from the inlet; 
 an inlet antenna that transmits the verification radio wave signal to a local communication area including the inlet, wherein the inlet antenna and the door antenna are arranged at different locations; and 
 a controller that moves the movable member when verification of the electronic key is accomplished in response to the verification radio wave signal from the inlet antenna. 
 
     
     
       9. The locking device according to  claim 8 , wherein the inlet antenna includes a communication area separated from that of the door antenna. 
     
     
       10. The locking device according to  claim 8 , wherein the inlet antenna and the door antenna transmit the verification radio wave signal at different timings. 
     
     
       11. The locking device according to  claim 8 , wherein the verification radio wave signal transmitted from the inlet antenna and the verification radio wave signal transmitted from the door antenna have different data structures. 
     
     
       12. The locking device according to  claim 8 , wherein the inlet antenna and the door antenna transmit the verification radio wave signal at different frequencies. 
     
     
       13. The locking device according to  claim 8 , further comprising a case that accommodates the movable member, wherein the case includes an outer surface in which a lock lever port is formed to receive a lock lever of the power feeding plug, and the movable member blocks the lock lever in the lock lever port at the lock position. 
     
     
       14. The locking device according to  claim 8 , wherein the inlet antenna forms the local communication area that is dedicated for the inlet near the inlet.